Meatless Monday inspiration: baked potatoes smothered with bean salsa

This baked potato is delicious, filling, and satisfying

I’m busy, exhausted, and generally time pressed, just like you.  Any time I can achieve two goals with just one action, then, I get giddy with excitement.  My latest hardworking, two-pronged goal achieving action?  Meatless Mondays.  The concept, first introduced by food guru Michael Pollan, is a great one: it results in good for both the environment and personal health.

Celebrating the first day of the workweek as a vegetarian is generally a good health practice because we Americans tend to eat too much meat and not enough fruits and vegetables.  It is good for the environment because raising livestock takes an enormous toll on our precious environment.  

Embracing Meatless Mondays shows good intention, but you may meet some resistance.  If you live with a meat lover, you may tire of the question, “Where’s the meat?”  If you grew up eating meat every night, you may struggle to figure out how to fill your family up on a meal sans meat.  I mean, who wants to eat salad every Monday?

So, here’s a little inspiration for you.  This recipe is simple, quick, and easy, my three favorite adjectives to pair with the word “cooking.”  The meal is also filling, different, and delicious.  Try it tonight:

Baked Potatoes Smothered with Bean Salsa:

1. Choose 4 large russet potatoes; clean and bake in oven
2. Prepare bean salsa; in a medium sized mixing bowl combine:
1. One can of black beans rinsed
2. Two medium sized tomatoes
3. One small onion, chopped
4. One jalapeno pepper
5. A splash of lemon juice
6. Salt and pepper to taste
3. Mash an avocado and put in a small serving bowl
4. Put nonfat Greek yogurt in another small serving bowl
5. Cut potatoes and open.  Smother each potato with salsa.  Put remaining salsa on the table.
6. Serve with your favorite salad and a glass of red wine